Monday Memo

December 4, 2023

 

Hello Everyone,

 

And just like that, we are in the last month of 2023. Simultaneously, as I approach my 7th month in office, it feels like it moved with lightning speed as well.

 

Celebrating 50 years of decorating: I had the pleasure of witnessing nearly 100 garden club Elves working in harmony to make the Wayside Inn, in Sudbury, holiday festivities come to life this past week. There were members from eleven garden clubs all taking command of multiple dining rooms, the kitchen, the reception desk, the sitting room, the hallway, the foyer, etc. The mantle pieces were graced with garland, wreaths hung in all of the windows along with candle lights on the sill. Carolers, miniature lamp posts, a carousel and snow scenes could be found in the cabinets, nooks and crannies of the Inn. The multiple Christmas trees were decorated with homemade salt shaker angels and snowmen. among other handmade ornaments. Hanging ceiling lights were laden with garland decorated with red berries while tiny white lights twinkled everywhere. Even LED lighting on white birch mini trees graced some tables. Their outside trees were also decorated.  

 

It was so much fun to walk into the buzz of movement and see how quickly it all came to fruition. What a gift our garden club members are to the Wayside Inn! Their time was generously rewarded with a wonderful lunch from a very appreciative owner. I was thrilled to be able to walk around and visit each garden club member during lunch. All the Elves were very proud of their work. Kudos to Jo Ann Forester, the Head Elf, from the Sudbury Garden Club who coordinated it all and to the following garden clubs who participated: Sudbury Garden Club, Thursday Garden Club, Framingham Garden Club, Pinefield Garden Club, Holden Garden Club, Holliston Garden Club, Hudson Garden Club, Marlborough Garden Club, Natick Garden Club, Northborough Garden Club, and Wayland Garden Club. This tradition has been going on since 1973 and this year they celebrated their 50th Anniversary. It is a wonderful community event and remarkable that the garden clubs have carried this tradition so well, for so long.  

I heard firsthand from the Elves; they will be back next year too! The Boston Globe interviewed JoAnn about this event. Look for the article next Sunday, 12/10.

 

Emily Hooper Alston’s deadline for submissions to the Mayflower is due tomorrow, 12/5. I hope you have shared significant events and have stories to tell about your club happenings. Send them to hooper.es@gmail.com Please refer to this document for submitting articles to the Mayflower.

 

The MFA Art in Bloom is on the horizon this year and it is on a first come, first serve, basis. Registration is online only. Orientation is February 26, 2024. I have all of the instructions for you here. Good luck! I know so many want to do this, but they are only accepting 45 entries.

 

In a newsletter to the State Presidents, our National President, Brenda Moore, wrote this week: Did you know, if you’re on Facebook, that National Garden Clubs has a Facebook page “National Garden Clubs Inc.” as does the National Garden Club Board - “NGC Board Member Group”? If you are a Facebook member you need to ‘like’ the NGC page and join the Facebook Board page.

 

Brenda is encouraging our members to purchase NGC Youth books. Donating books to local libraries and schools is an excellent way to get the word out about NGC to the next generation. Shop NGC Products | National Garden Clubs, Inc. It’s a good time of year to purchase books for children.

 

On a sad note, Kathy Romine passed away on Sunday afternoon. She had been sick over the last couple of months. For those who don’t know Kathy, she worked for NGC for over 30 years as Fran Mantler’s and then Michelle Smith’s, Administrative Assistant. Kathy was a hard-working employee who had a personality that carried any room. She will truly be missed!

  

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to her son, Jason Romine, at 3809 Tahquitz Dr, Saint Louis, MO 63125. Obituary

 

 

Enjoy each day.

 

Marjorie Dienhart

GCFM President

 

Everything that closes down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace. 

-May Sarton